Blank jerseys for Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill as no lead sponsor for Team India in Asia Cup 2025

By Admin

03 Sep, 2025

India will enter the Asia Cup 2025 with an unusual look blank jerseys for Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, and the rest of the squad. For the first time in a non-ICC event, Team India will play without a lead sponsor after fantasy sports giant Dream11 terminated its contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Dream11’s Exit and the Sponsorship Void

Dream11 pulled out of its high-value sponsorship deal following the introduction of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, which bans real-money gaming in India. This legislation struck at the core of Dream11’s business model, forcing the company to invoke an exit clause in its agreement with BCCI.

The contract, signed in 2023, was valued at around USD 44 million (INR 358 crore) and was originally set to run until 2026. Dream11’s exit echoes previous mid-contract departures, such as OPPO in 2019, which led to Byju’s stepping in before eventually giving way to Dream11.

BCCI’s Search for a New Sponsor

In response, the BCCI quickly initiated a new Invitation to Tender (ITT) process to identify a replacement sponsor. Interested companies can purchase the ITT until September 12, with final bids due by September 16.

However, with the Asia Cup beginning on September 9, the Indian team will likely start the tournament without any sponsor branding on their jerseys. While fans are used to sponsor-free kits during ICC events, this marks a rare instance of sponsorless jerseys in a non-ICC competition.

Stricter Sponsorship Criteria

The BCCI has also introduced strict eligibility conditions for future sponsors. Companies associated with:

• Alcohol
  
  

• Gambling or betting services
  
  

• Cryptocurrency
  
  

• Online real-money gaming
  
  

• Tobacco products
  
  

• Pornography or morally offensive content
  
  

…are barred from bidding. This move reflects the BCCI’s commitment to associating Team India with brands that align with Indian values and legal norms.

Team India’s Asia Cup 2025 Journey

The Indian squad departs for the UAE on September 4 to kick off their Asia Cup campaign. Placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, India’s fixtures are as follows:

• September 10: vs UAE (Dubai)
  
  

• September 14: vs Pakistan (Dubai)
  
  

• September 19: vs Oman (Abu Dhabi)
  
  

Meanwhile, Group B consists of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka. The top two teams from each group will progress to the Super Four stage, culminating in the final on September 28.

What It Means for Fans and Brands

For fans, watching stars like Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill take the field in blank jerseys will be a visual departure from the norm. For brands, the vacancy represents a golden opportunity to align with one of the most followed cricket teams in the world.

Whether BCCI finds a new lead sponsor in time for the later stages of the Asia Cup remains to be seen. But one thing is certain Team India’s presence on the field will shine even brighter, with “India” standing out more prominently than ever before.